Biological material detection apparatus
Inventors
Sickenberger, David W. • Karwacki, Christopher J.
Assignees
United States Department of the Army • Government of the United States of America
Publication Number
US-9689792-B1
Publication Date
2017-06-27
Expiration Date
2031-01-20
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Abstract
A particle detection apparatus and method includes an excitation source having a first emission band that excites a sample and a second emission band; a first optical device connected to the excitation source and attenuates radiation emitted in the second emission band; an optical cavity adjacent to the first optical device, which includes a sample excited by radiation from the excitation source; a substrate coupled to the optical cavity and exposed to the radiation from the excitation source; a binding compound coupled to the substrate, which includes a ligand coupled to the substrate; and a capture material coupled to the ligand and capturing the sample; a second optical device connected to the substrate and attenuates radiation emitted in the first emission band; and an optical detector connected to the second optical device and detects radiation emitted in the second emission band.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a particle detector comprising an excitation source having a first emission band to excite a sample, which may be biological or chemical, a first optical device that attenuates radiation emitted in a second emission band, an optical cavity adjacent to the first optical device containing the excited sample, a substrate coupled to the optical cavity and exposed to the excitation radiation, a binding compound coupled to the substrate including a ligand, and a capture material coupled to the ligand that captures the sample. Additionally, a second optical device connected to the substrate attenuates radiation emitted in the first emission band, and an optical detector connected to this second optical device detects radiation emitted in the second emission band.
The excitation source may be a semiconductor ultraviolet optical source with the first emission band in the ultraviolet spectrum. The ligand may include amino, carboxyl, or thiol groups while the capture material might be metal nano-particles, aliphatic-based polymers, aerosolized therapeutic proteins, or hydroxyl apatite. An optical detector such as an avalanche photodiode, optionally combined with a lens, detects fluorescent light from the sample captured on the binding compound attached to the substrate, which does not itself fluoresce.
The problem addressed is that conventional biological aerosol detectors often yield fluorescent signals with contributions from all materials having similar physical properties, including non-threat materials like dirt particles. Moreover, aqueous-based devices using antibody-antigen methods require additional dyes and washing steps, complicating and limiting detection. There is a need for alternative particle detectors for detecting biological agent aerosols that improve specificity, reduce complexity, and enable low-cost, portable, and lightweight designs capable of operation in various environments.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent claim outlining the comprehensive components and features of a biological material detector.
Biological material detector with integrated components
A biological material detector comprising an air chamber creating an enclosure, an emitter assembly with an emission source that excites fluorescence in biological materials, an optical detector with a prism connected to it, a capture assembly positioned between the emitter and detector assemblies that captures biological aerosol samples, and an optical filter that attenuates non-fluorescent light wavelengths to isolate fluorescence signals from captured biological aerosols.
Capture assembly with specific components
The capture assembly includes a substrate connected to the air chamber, a ligand attached to the substrate, and a capture material connected to the ligand, where the capture material selectively binds to biological aerosols and enables fluorescence detection.
The claim covers a biological material detector featuring an air enclosure, excitation source, capture assembly with specific ligands and capture materials, optical filtering through a prism, and detection of fluorescence generated by biological aerosols, incorporating integration of structural and functional components for selective and sensitive detection.
Stated Advantages
Low-cost particle detector that is portable and lightweight, suitable for attachment to clothing.
Ability to use low-cost components such as avalanche photodiodes for optical detection.
Capability to measure exposure or dose over extended time periods by accumulating fluorescence signals.
Manufacturing simplicity via integration of optical filters, substrate, and binding compounds to solid-state components.
Improved discrimination and classification of threat materials by employing prisms and multiple optical detectors to differentiate fluorescence wavelengths.
Documented Applications
Supplemental non-specific biological aerosol detectors widely deployed on personnel or in facilities to track biological events in conjunction with more specific large-scale detectors.
Hospital settings to monitor biological threat material concentrations in areas such as waiting rooms and inform ventilation improvements.
Integration into gas masks to detect filter failure by measuring particle passage in inhaled air.
Wearable bio-dosimeters that alert individuals and medical personnel to exposure to biological agents and identify the specific agent contacted.
General dosimeters placed in rooms and buildings to measure transport and hazard of infectious diseases for infection control monitoring.
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